Spain’s Supreme Court lifts Puigdemont’s arrest warrant, but legal charges remain

Key points

• The Spanish Supreme Court lifted the arrest warrant against Carles Puigdemont on October 6, 2026, following a ruling by the Constitutional Court regarding the 2024 amnesty law.
• Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena stated he had not yet received the full text of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on former Catalan minister Dolors Bassa, meaning the precedent for applying the amnesty to Puigdemont’s case is not yet confirmed.
• The lifting of the warrant is provisional; it does not formally apply the amnesty law to Puigdemont nor dismiss the embezzlement charges against him.
• Puigdemont, speaking from Waterloo, Belgium, called the ruling a 'clear defeat for the Spanish state' but warned it is not the solution to the Catalonia-Spain conflict.
• Catalonia’s political landscape has shifted significantly since 2017, with the region now governed by the Socialist party of Catalonia (PSC) and facing new demographic and economic challenges.

Background

Carles Puigdemont fled Spain in 2017 to avoid imprisonment for his role in the failed Catalan independence referendum. Nine of his colleagues were imprisoned for up to 13 years, though all were released within three years. The 2024 amnesty law was passed by the Spanish parliament to address cases related to the independence push. This development follows a period of increased cooperation between Madrid and Barcelona, with the PSC governing Catalonia since 2024, marking the first time since 1980 that a non-nationalist party has led the region.

How outlets are covering it

Politico emphasizes the legal mechanics of the Supreme Court’s decision, highlighting that the move is provisional and that judge Pablo Llarena has not yet confirmed if the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Dolors Bassa sets a precedent for Puigdemont’s case. The Guardian, in contrast, focuses on the broader political and demographic changes in Catalonia since 2017, questioning whether Puigdemont’s return will be met with the same fervor as before. The Guardian notes that Catalonia is now governed by the PSC, and that younger Catalans face economic issues like housing and jobs, which may diminish support for independence. Additionally, The Guardian points out the rise of far-right nationalist parties like Aliança Catalana, which have shifted the political landscape and may complicate Puigdemont’s return.

Why it matters

The lifting of Puigdemont’s arrest warrant is a significant step in the ongoing political and legal struggle between Catalonia and Spain. It signals a potential shift in the Spanish government’s approach to the independence movement, but the provisional nature of the decision and the lack of formal amnesty mean that the legal and political conflicts remain unresolved. The changing political and demographic landscape in Catalonia also suggests that Puigdemont’s return may not have the same impact as it did in 2017, as the region faces new challenges and a more complex political environment.

What to watch

The next steps will depend on whether the full text of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Dolors Bassa confirms a precedent for applying the 2024 amnesty law to Puigdemont’s case. If the amnesty is formally applied, Puigdemont may be free to return to Spain without fear of arrest. However, if the charges are not dismissed, he may still face legal consequences. Politically, Puigdemont’s return will likely test the current climate of cooperation between Madrid and Barcelona, as well as the changing demographics and economic concerns of Catalonia’s population.